AHOF Returns with 'The Passage,' Dominating Charts with Rough Charm

The nine-member group AHOF has made a comeback, showcasing a raw and mature charm with their latest release.

AHOF, consisting of Steven, Seo Jeong-woo, Cha Ung-gi, Zhang Shuai-bo, Park Han, L, Park Ju-won, Zhen, and Daisuke, dropped their second mini-album 'The Passage' on the 4th at 6 PM. This marks their return approximately four months after their debut album 'WHO WE ARE.' The album features five tracks, including the title song 'Pinocchio Hates Lies,' along with 'AHOF, The Beginning of Shining Numbers (Intro),' 'Run at 1.5x Speed,' 'So I Won't Lose You Again,' and 'Sleeping Diary (Outro).' This release emphasizes AHOF's enhanced maturity and solidified presence.

'The Passage' has already proven its success, recording over 81,000 copies in sales on its release day, topping the Hanteo Chart's physical album chart. The title track, 'Pinocchio Hates Lies,' immediately secured the number one spot on the Bugs real-time chart upon its release and successfully landed on the Melon HOT100 chart at 79th place. Furthermore, the song has achieved global popularity, topping the iTunes charts in a total of 13 countries, including the Philippines and Singapore.

Reflecting on their comeback, Steven expressed, "I'm so thrilled and happy to return with an album that can show AHOF's new charms." He added, "We worked hard preparing while also doing our debut activities, so I hope the rough charm of this album is well conveyed to many people." Zhang Shuai-bo shared an anecdote from the music video filming, recalling, "It was the first time we tried a one-take shoot for the title track 'Pinocchio Hates Lies.' I was very nervous and it was difficult thinking I couldn't make a mistake, but it remains a good memory as a new experience." Park Han also mentioned, "I rode a wire for the first time in my life during the music video shoot," and asked fans to find that scene in the music video.

The members expressed feeling musical growth through this album. Cha Ung-gi noted, "The entire team has grown a lot musically through the process of members participating in lyric writing and actively offering opinions." Zhang Shuai-bo added, "I realized the importance of expression as a performer. I pondered and prepared how our story and emotions could be well conveyed on stage for this album."

Regarding the title track 'Pinocchio Hates Lies,' L explained, "It contains the message of showing honest feelings only to 'you' amidst uncertainty. While the lyrics might sound like they're for a lover, 'you' can be expanded to mean fans, friends, or family. Its charm lies in being interpretable in any relationship." Park Ju-won highlighted the witty lyrics incorporating the word 'Pinocchio' as a killing part, stating, "I particularly like it because it well captures the message of courage towards honesty."

Their affection for the other tracks was also evident. Steven expressed fondness for the intro song he co-wrote, saying, "The lyric 'Cause you & I and all nine shining numbers' is memorable because it symbolizes that AHOF shines brighter because the nine members are gathered as one." Park Ju-won recommended 'Run at 1.5x Speed' as a track showcasing the bright and energetic side of youth with its refreshing and upbeat energy. Daisuke recommended the outro track 'Sleeping Diary (Outro),' noting its smooth R&B vibe and beautiful lyrics that would appeal to general listeners, expressing confidence in AHOF as a group known for great B-sides.

Seo Jeong-woo described 'The Passage' as an 'egg,' explaining, "While 'WHO WE ARE' showed who AHOF is as a team, this album focuses on expressing our true selves, like an egg breaking open and moving forward." Cha Ung-gi defined the album's keyword as 'rough youth,' stating, "Both the music and performance have become rougher and deeper, with added power and flair compared to the previous work. I think AHOF's more mature and intense charms will feel new."

Park Han expressed his desire to hear the reaction, "'As expected from AHOF, they've grown this much?'" He added, "We wanted to surprise fans with a fresh AHOF while maintaining the identity shown in our debut album, so we tried many new things." Lastly, Seo Jeong-woo and L conveyed their gratitude and anticipation to their fan club 'FOHA,' saying, "We are happy to be able to meet you again so soon with our second mini-album, and we're already looking forward to our future activities together."

Fans are reacting enthusiastically, with comments like 'AHOF has really grown so much! This album is going to be a hit,' 'The Pinocchio concept is so fresh and I love it,' and 'All the B-sides are so good, they're going on repeat in my playlist.'